Written Answers Friday 20 March 2009

Scottish Executive

Climate Change

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what draft secondary legislation it expects to make available to the Transport Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee to aid its Stage 2 consideration of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill.

John Swinney: The draft regulations which have not been subject of detailed research or scrutiny to support the provisions of Section 50 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill [as introduced] will be provided to the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee at Stage 2.

Historic Buildings

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had, and with whom, regarding the possible reopening of the slate quarry at Ballachulish.

Michael Russell: Historic Scotland, who act on behalf of Scottish ministers on these matters, have been looking at potential sources of slate across Scotland starting with a national overview taken in 2000. The Scottish Stone Liaison Group (SSLG) which is funded by Historic Scotland has a remit to look at sustaining and developing supplies of indigenous stone, and have taken a specific interest in slate. Historic Scotland attended a meeting facilitated by SSLG in February 2008 with the mineral rights owner and a potential quarry operator. This was a concept level discussion where the Historic Scotland interest was based on skills required, material quality and demand.

Historic Buildings

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost would be of reopening the Ballachulish slate quarry.

Michael Russell: The supply of traditional roofing materials is an area of policy concern for Officials at Historic Scotland, and while they do not have the remit or the resources to make financial judgments of a commercial activity such as quarrying, they remain keen to assist those who are in a position to do so.

  To this end, Officials at Historic Scotland have commissioned reports on quality, training and ways to assess demand, that will allow commercial quarry operators to draw up costings for any potential extraction operation at Ballahulish based on an understanding of the material and the likely demand. It should be noted that Historic Scotland has no leverage, ownership or any other hold over the site, which will remain a matter for the owner of the site, the local authority and a potential operator. We are aware that the Scottish Stone Liaison Group has taken an active interest in this area.

Historic Buildings

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commit funds to a feasibility study on the reopening of the Ballachulish slate quarry.

Michael Russell: Historic Scotland, acting on behalf of Scottish ministers, is aware of the need to obtain a wide range of appropriate traditional building materials for repairs to existing buildings and matching new work. There are a range of potential sources for slate production in Scotland and Historic Scotland has previously commissioned a number of research projects around this issue in general, including:

  A report on the training issues involved with a revived quarrying operation in the West of Scotland (via Proskills 2007).

  A report into the technical and physical properties of the material remaining at one of the Ballachulish Quarries, and at Hill of Foudland in Aberdeenshire will be launched in April 2009.

  A pilot methodology, carried out in Stirling by the Scottish Stone Liaison Group, to assess the likely demand for Scottish Slate will be launched in April 2009.

  It is not Historic Scotland’s intention to commission such a feasibility study in the near future, but it remains an area of interest for them.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of houses completed by housing associations in the first three quarters of 2008 was 29% less than in the equivalent period in 2007.

Alex Neil: Only provisional data is currently available for the second and third quarters of 2008 (Q2 and Q3 2008). On the basis of these provisional estimates, the number of new build completions by housing associations in Q1-Q3 2008 (January to September 2008) was 2,041. This provisional estimate is 29% lower than the figure for new build completions in Q1-Q3 2007 (January to September 2007). This reduction should be interpreted with care.

  Recent experience suggests that the provisional estimates for the second and third quarter of 2008 are likely to be revised significantly upwards as more complete data become available. For example, data for Q2, Q3 and Q4 2007 were revised upwards by 21%, 16% and 51% respectively between the time they were first published and their final revision at the end of the financial year.

Justice

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on anti-knife crime campaigns over the last five years, broken down by campaign.

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the success of anti-knife crime campaigns was evaluated over the last five years, broken down by campaign.

Fergus Ewing: The only knife crime communication campaign undertaken by the Scottish Government over the past five years ran between November 2006 and April 2007. £650,573 was spent on its delivery and the impact was evaluated by an independent organisation. However, over the past few years we have been working in partnership with the national Violence Reduction Unit to deliver a range of initiatives to prevent and reduce knife crime in Scotland. These include the on-going anti-violence policing campaign, which delivers coordinated and targeted enforcement action across Scotland; the groundbreaking Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) project, in which our £1.6 million investment is supporting partners to tackle gang violence in Glasgow, and the recently announced No Knives Better Lives,  our new £500,000 youth engagement initiative which will work directly with young people to educate them about the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife.

Mental Health

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17279 by John Lamont on 28 October 2008, what targets have been set to improve approaches to mental health services and what is being done in the Highlands to improve mental health services to ex-service personnel.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is making good progress with partners in delivering the national performance targets and commitments for mental health set out in Delivering for Mental Health (Bib. number 41410) which cover the full spectrum of mental health care.

  Refinement of the published suicide target to support training of key frontline staff by 2010, and new targets to deliver faster access to specialist child and adolescent mental health services for 2009-10 onwards, to support a future waiting time target, and to achieve improvements in the early diagnosis and management of those with dementia by 2011 have been added since it’s publication.

  Ex-service personnel, including those in the Highlands, have unhindered access to mental health services and NHS priority treatment for conditions relating to their service. Local delivery of national mental health targets and commitments will benefit all those with a mental illness, including ex-service personnel.

Ministerial Correspondence

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what average length of time it has taken to respond to correspondence from (a) parliamentarians and (b) members of the public in the last 12 months.

Bruce Crawford: During the period 1 March 2008 to 28 February 2009 the average length of time taken for the Scottish Executive to respond to (a) parliamentarians was 12 working days, and (b) members of the public was 13 working days.

Ministerial Correspondence

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many letters that it received (a) between one and three months and (b) over three months ago have not been answered or have received a holding reply.

Bruce Crawford: Currently the number of letters outstanding that were received (a) between one and three months ago is 78, and (b) over three months ago is two.

Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what disposals were applied to people prosecuted under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in the Lothians and Borders police force area in each of the last three years.

Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Lothians and Borders Police Force Area, Where the Main Offence was Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 19711, by Disposal, 2004-05 to 2006-07

  

 Main Result of Proceedings
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Prison 
 149
 148
 149


 Young Offenders Institute
 13
 16
 9


 Probation 
 82
 64
 69


 Community service order 
 93
 79
 61


 Restriction of liberty order 
 4
 3
 8


 Drug treatment and testing order 
 19
 36
 33


 Fine 
 505
 616
 678


 Caution or admonition 
 71
 79
 114


 Absolute discharge 
 3
 3
 1


 Total
 939
 1,044
 1,122



  Note: 1. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 covers a range of offences which come under the following crime categories: illegal importation of drugs, production and manufacture or cultivation of drugs, supply or possession with intent to supply, possession of drugs and obstructing a constable in pursuance of his duty.

NHS Hospitals

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Queen Mother’s Hospital will transfer its services to the Southern General Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: This is an operational matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The board have confirmed that the extension to the Southern General will be completed late 2009 and that patients should begin to transfer in early 2010.

NHS Hospitals

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the new children’s hospital will open at the Southern General Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have confirmed that the new children’s hospital should be completed in late 2013 with patients being treated early in 2014 after a period of commissioning.

NHS Hospitals

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a time gap between the transfer of services from the Queen Mother’s Hospital to the new children’s hospital at the Southern General Hospital and, if so, what this will be.

Nicola Sturgeon: This is an operational matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, however, the Board have confirmed that all Glasgow Maternity Units provide neonatal services. The Princess Royal Maternity Hospital (PRM) and Southern General provides the full range of care from intensive care high dependency and special care; the Queen Mother’s Hospital (QMH) provides special care services only and Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC) provides intensive care services in a combined medical and surgical intensive care unit. When the QMH closes their special care neonatal services will transfer to the Southern General Hospital (SGH) and PRM. The combined medical and surgical intensive care service will remain at the RHSC, Yorkhill until the new children’s hospital opens at the SGH. There will be a period of four years between the QMH closure and the new children’s hospital opening. Clinical staff fully support this service model for the gap period.

NHS Hospitals

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the contingency plans are for the transfer of neonates from the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital and the Southern General Hospital in the event of any delay to the new children’s hospital.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has to increase the budget for ambulances to transport neonates to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill in advance of the new children’s hospital opening at the Southern General Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have confirmed that neonates are transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children from Maternity Units across the West of Scotland. The only additional transport requirements will be for the neonates who previously would have delivered at the Queen Mothers Hospital. The board have stated that the Neonatal Transport Team is well placed to accommodate these additional limited numbers of neonates.

Nutrition

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to make school caterers aware of Healthy Eating in Schools: A Guide to Implementing the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008.

Adam Ingram: In September 2008 I launched the Healthy Eating in Schools guidance at the HM Inspectorate of Education healthy food in schools conference where the audience included local authority catering staff.

  Officials consulted widely, including with local authority and school catering staff and their representatives, when drafting the guidance to get their views and to raise awareness. Copies of the guidance were subsequently sent to all Scottish schools and local authorities.

  Officials regularly promote the Healthy Eating in Schools guidance to local authority and school catering staff and their representatives when speaking at conferences and seminars, at meetings and when contacted by email and telephone. We continue to work with our partners and local authorities to promote the guidance and to encourage the sharing of good practice.

  Under the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 local authorities are required to ensure that food and drink provided in schools comply with the nutritional requirements that we have set. In carrying out this duty, local authorities must have regard to the Healthy Eating in Schools guidance. Local authorities therefore have a key role to play in making sure their school catering staff are aware of the guidance and are implementing it in their schools.

Nutrition

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to raise awareness of Healthy Eating in Schools: A Guide to Implementing the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008 among staff, parents and pupils.

Adam Ingram: Scottish Government officials regularly promote the Healthy Eating in Schools guidance to local authority and school staff when speaking at conferences and seminars. We also consulted widely with local authority and school staff while drafting the guidance. Copies of the guidance were sent to all Scottish schools and local authorities.

  In addition we have posted information on the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act (the Act) with links to the guidance on the Parentzone website at:

  www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk.

  However, we want to make sure more staff, parents and pupils are aware of the Act and the accompanying guidance. We are currently developing leaflets for parents and pupils to let them know about what is happening in schools in relation to health promotion and healthy food. Other leaflets are being developed for staff.

  Partnership working and involving parents, pupils and staff are key objectives of health promoting schools. The health promotion guidance on the Act, that we issued to local authorities and schools last summer, includes guidance on partnership working and highlights the importance of involving partners, including parents, pupils and staff. Under the Act, local authorities are also required to promote school lunches. However, it is for local authorities and schools to determine how to promote the lunches and the Healthy Eating in Schools guidance. For our part we continue to work with our partners and local authorities to support the implementation of the act and to encourage the sharing of good practice.

Nutrition

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met or plans to meet food manufacturers and suppliers or their representatives to discuss the introduction of the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008.

Adam Ingram: Scottish Government officials have regular contact, including at meetings, at seminars and conferences, by email and by telephone, with food and drink manufacturers and their representatives to discuss the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale it envisages for the drafting and implementation of recommendations on permitted development rights for micro wind turbines and air source heat pumps.

John Swinney: The drafting of recommendations will take place as part of the study and any timescale for implementation will depend on the content of those recommendations.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still committed to removing the need for planning permission for micro wind turbines.

John Swinney: The government is committed to this objective but a decision on removing the need for planning permission for micro-turbines will depend on the recommendations of the study, which will look at all the relevant issues.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale it envisages for carrying out research on permitted development rights for micro wind turbines and air source heat pumps.

John Swinney: Recommendations are expected before the end of 2009, with the intention that, if applicable, a further Amendment Order could be laid within 12 months of the original coming into force.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the brief for the research to be carried out into permitted development rights for micro wind turbines and air source heat pumps.

John Swinney: The normal procedures for procuring research include:

  Advertising the project on the Scottish Government website and requesting Expressions of Interest from organisations.

  Issuing the specification to organisations which have been shortlisted from the previous stage and asking them to tender for the contract.

  It is therefore not normal procedure to publish the specification.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the research into micro wind turbines and air source heat pumps will be carried out at the same time given the different issues raised by the decision to delay the granting of permitted development rights for micro wind turbines and air source heat pumps.

John Swinney: A single study will look at the issues relating to the introduction of permitted development rights for domestic wind turbines and air source heat pumps.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to put in place to ensure that local authorities fully implement Scottish Planning Policy SPP 6: Renewable Energy.

John Swinney: Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6, Renewable Energy (March 2007) is a non-statutory document. It is for planning authorities to apply the policy as they deem appropriate.

  The Scottish Government has put in place a number of measures to assist planning authorities with this including:

  providing consultancy support and advice to local authorities on the preparation of Supplementary Planning Guidance for wind farms.

  issuing PAN 45 Annex 2, Spatial Frameworks and Supplementary Planning Guidance for Windfarms.

  issuing PAN 84, Reducing Carbon Emissions in New Development.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to address the level of skill in carbon assessment linked to the implementation of planning regulations.

John Swinney: Officials are in discussion with the Improvement Service about a range of training and development matters associated with planning modernisation.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to introducing permitted development rights for the installation of renewable technology for non-domestic buildings.

John Swinney: Research published in early 2007 recommended that permitted development rights distinguish between domestic and non-domestic buildings. We have given priority to domestic buildings. The research recommended that the same rights apply to all non-domestic buildings. However, non-domestic buildings vary enormously in their scale, location and type of activity. We intend to progress work on non-domestic microgeneration when matters are resolved for domestic.

Scottish Government Communications

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used to determine whether SNP should be used before the word government in its press releases or official publications.

John Swinney: All terminology used in press releases or official publications is included as appropriate.

Scottish Government Finance

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive in what instances, and to what extent, HM Treasury has applied the policy discussed in paragraph 8.4 of Funding the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly: Statement of Funding Policy, or its equivalent, to reduce the Scottish block grant since 1999.

John Swinney: HM Treasury has not reduced the Scottish block grant since 1999 in respect of receipts from the sale of assets.

Scottish Government Procurement

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made towards achieving its 10-day prompt payment target.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting businesses by paying bills more quickly and is making good progress towards the target of paying transactions within 10 working days.

  For the month of February 2009, 86.5% of transactions were paid by the Scottish Government within 10 working days.

  Emerging results for March 2009 show this performance moving to in excess of 90%.

Scottish Government Staff

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it employed on (a) 1 January 2007, (b) 1 January 2008 and (c) 1 January 2009, broken down into (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) job share posts.

John Swinney: With regards to the question raised, the following table provides the relevant information.

  

 1 January 2007
 1 January 2008
 1 January 2009


 Full-Time
 Part-Time
 Full-Time
 Part-Time
 Full-Time
 Part-Time


 3,898
 531
 3,809
 559
 4,278
 689



  The job share figures are not currently available. Job sharers are included in the part-time figures.

  You will notice that the staffing number have increased as at 1 January 2009. This is due to a number of factors, but most significantly the inclusion of staff from Communities Scotland, Scottish Building Standards Agency and Scottish Agricultural Science Agency to core Directorates, which were not included in the earlier figures.

Scottish Government Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many mobile phones are provided to staff in each of its directorates; who is responsible for payment of the accounts; what the cost was in 2007-08, and what the estimated cost is for 2008-09.

John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47911).